(2 Timothy 3)
THERE is a period in the last days designated in the Scriptures as “perilous times.” The Holy Ghost through the apostle Paul tells us to know that these times should come, and shows what should be our attitude and conduct in faithfulness to the Lord, amidst the increasing ruin and disorder in the professing Church. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Tim. 3:1).
The characteristic features of these perilous times are clearly delineated in this chapter, and they are plainly shown on every hand, in the spirit of the present day. What makes these times so difficult are the prevailing worldly principles, and these in their worst form; false doctrines and seductions under the profession of Christianity, and all passed off as genuine truth, when it is a counterfeit.
A form of godliness is not enough, because there may be that along with a denial of its influence over heart and conscience in one’s life. The days are full of deceivers and false teachers, who “overthrow the faith of some” by their seductions, and cause even the enemies of Christ to blaspheme. They will grow worse and worse, for “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). It must be so, for God’s infallible Word has foretold it, but the truth of God remains ever the same, it changes not, because the Lord changes not. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). And His Word remains the same. “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Pet. 1:24, 25). “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Dear fellow-believer, we rest in our Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Holy Scriptures, in perfect peace and security amid the increasing iniquity of these perilous times. It is sadly noticeable that the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, is largely given up to pleasure. The form of religiousness is gone through by many, then the balance of that day is spent for pleasure, or in social visits. The vast number in Christendom give themselves up to pleasure on that day, under various excuses.
Does this not show there is more love of pleasures than love for God?
On the first day of the week the Lord rose from the dead, and triumphed over everything which was against the believer. He was crucified for the believer’s sins; He rose again for his justification on that day (Matt. 28:1-6; John 20:1-20; Luke 24:1-9; Rom. 4:24-25, 5:1, 2). This first day of the week is called in Revelation 1:10, “The Lord’s Day.” It is His day and not our day. That day recalls to the mind of the believer the Lord’s love in dying for his sins, and rising again from the dead for his justification; and being the Lord’s Day, it should be given up to the Lord exclusively in love to Him. Truly every believer in the Lord Jesus can say, “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19), and that love should be his incentive to live for Him, and wholly serve Him.
“Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Do these words have their force and power upon the conscience and heart as they should?
Let us ask ourselves the question and answer it before the Lord. How do we use the Lord’s Day? And how do we spend our vacations?
Our prayer is —
“O keep us in the narrow way,
That ne’er from Thee our footsteps stray.”
Dear child of God, we are not of this world; our blessings are “in heavenly places,” not in earthly places. If any are careless about these things, let God’s faithful and holy Word arouse them from their indifference to own the Lord’s claims over them as above everything and every one else.
Occupy yourself with that Word, and be guided only by its teachings and principles.
The delusions of Satan under high-sounding names are gotten up to hide attacks upon the person of Christ, and the atonement, and upon the Holy Scriptures, which are the inspired Word of God. Such delusions are but subtle revivals of the old errors and heresies of the apostles’ day, and openly condemned by them. Oh! turn away from all these errors and seducers. Turn away from that snare of Satan called Higher Criticism. It would take from the Christian the Holy Bible. It would tear out of your heart and conscience, if it were possible, the admonitions and teachings of the inspired five books of Moses, every one of which unfold to us who believe in Christ “the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27, 44).
The teachers and disciples of Higher Criticism, who deny the inspiration of parts of the Holy Scriptures, cannot come under the appellation of “the man of God,” for he needs “ALL Scripture” in order that he may be perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and they only take parts of Scripture.
The “Millennial Dawn, or Plan of the Ages,” and “Christian Science” (falsely named) are delusions of Satan, and are apostasy, for the former attacks the atonement by lessening its efficacy; it is a denial of the value of His work on the cross, and the eternal judgment of God against sin, while the latter attacks the Person of Christ, and the whole of Christianity, and God as Creator. It is not Christianity at all. “Evil men and seducers” are getting bolder, and waxing worse and worse with the deceptions of their own deceived hearts and minds which are blinded by unbelieving reasonings. Your safety, dearly beloved in Christ, is to continue in the teaching of God’s Word taught by the Holy Ghost, and allow that precious and faithful Word to have its influence over your conscience and heart. Turn ever to it. Cleave closely to it, and to the Lord with purpose of heart, and you will be equipped in the energy of the Holy Spirit for the Lord’s service.
It is the Lord’s will that we should be aware of these “perilous times,” and their characteristic masks, and avoid them. Also, in order that we may be on our guard against error, we are to be fortified with God’s Holy Word. Let us not be discouraged, for the Lord would have us go on preaching the Word and the gospel, instant in season and out of season, exhorting, reproving, until He comes. He will give delivering mercies, and He will stand by His testimony and His faithful servants and followers, however small their number may be, and strengthen them as He did His beloved and faithful apostle. The Lord has said, “Surely I come quickly;” let us say from hearts His love has won, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Till then, it is our privilege to continue in the things learned from the Word, guarded with it, like sentinels on watch, lest the world’s principles, religiousness of the flesh, and false doctrines ensnare our hearts and minds. Also endure afflictions, and serve and follow the Lord, whom the mass of Christendom reject in practice. There is a crown of righteousness laid up for all who love His appearing, which the righteous Judge shall give “at that day” when He comes. Alas! poor Christendom, thy doom is sealed. Thy judgment as an apostate system is foretold in iniquitous Babylon’s ultimate and final destruction (Rev. 18).
W. E. S.